title: Lymphocyte subsets in experimental rhinovirus infection in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  COPD is associated with increased numbers of T cells in the lungs, particularly CD8+ T cells. The mechanisms of increased T cells are unknown but may be related to repeated virus infections in COPD patients. We analysed lymphocyte subsets in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage in smokers and COPD subjects during experimental rhinovirus infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lymphocytes were isolated from blood and bronchoalveolar lavage from COPD subjects and non-obstructed smokers prior to, and following experimental rhinovirus infection. Lymphocyte surface markers and intracellular cytokines were analysed using flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following rhinovirus infection CD4+ and CD8+ T cell numbers in the COPD subjects were significantly reduced in blood and CD3+ and CD8+ T cells increased in bronchoalveolar lavage compared to baseline. T cells did not increase in BAL in the control subjects. CD3+ T cells correlated with virus load.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Following rhinovirus infection T cells move from the circulation to the lung. Repeated virus infections may contribute to T cell accumulation in COPD patients.
authors.affiliation: Airway Disease Infection Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mallia
authors.affiliation: Airway Disease Infection Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Simon D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Message
authors.affiliation: Airway Disease Infection Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Research Centre on Asthma and COPD, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Contoli
authors.affiliation: Airway Disease Infection Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.affiliation: Airway Disease Infection Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Aurica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Telcian
authors.affiliation: Airway Disease Infection Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Vasile
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Laza-Stanca
authors.affiliation: Research Centre on Asthma and COPD, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papi
authors.affiliation: Airway Disease Infection Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Luminita A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Stanciu
authors.affiliation: Airway Disease Infection Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elkin
authors.affiliation: Airway Disease Infection Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Onn M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Kon
authors.affiliation: GlaxoSmithKline, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB11 1BT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Airway Disease Infection Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: s.johnston@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sebastian L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010850:Picornaviridae Infections; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D012229:Rhinovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019562:Viral Load
keywords: Acute exacerbations of COPD; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Respiratory viruses; T lymphocytes